By Angela Hill

New ideas in the quest for doctors

Dec 10, 2010 | 9:55 AM

The Northern Lakes Medical Committee has launched an information package to try an attract doctors to their communities.

“We’ve been very proactive. We’ve been doing a lot of research at a very high level on our own and I think that people are acknowledging that’s unique on our part,” said Tracy Schira-Parker, spokeswoman for the committee.

The package includes a magazine on the area, brochures from the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, a physician recruitment brochure, information on the town of Spiritwood and a DVD from the committee.

They’ve sent them out to medical schools and agencies that recruit foreign medical graduates.
Schira-Parker said they were sent out less than a month ago, but they have already received feedback.

“The one recruitment agency sent them to one of the doctors and because of the amount of material that was in there, he came back to them and said I want to talk to these people,” she said.

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It has been difficult to find and keep physicians in the community, she said, but they are getting closer.

“The prospects out there are not as abundant as I would like to see, but then again, the company we have been dealing with has been doing all of the upfront current process before they even come to us. So we’re not getting prospects that don’t fit rural Saskatchewan, we are getting prospects that fit,” Schira-Parker said.

Two doctors have been interviewed by the committee and they are looking at checking references now.

One doctor is prepared to sign a three to five year contract, Schira-Parker said.

The health region and Northern Lakes Health Committee are working to find solutions that work for the community.

Cecile Hunt, CEO of the region, said the information package will be helpful in explaining the area.

“I think that it demonstrates to a whole host of interested parties on the strengths and opportunities that exists in Spiritwood,” she said.

ahill@panow.com